of Italy. In your Cocker's arithmetick, it feems, feventeen are more than twenty-two, which again are more than forty-fix, as forty-fix are more than fixty-three. In my edition of Cocker, it is laid down as a rule, that there can be no calculation, without data, and no eftimate without calculation. Without much calculation, indeed, we may fee from the foregoing ftatement, that Spain has lately been lefs a customer than formerly, though I have no data for estimating the caufe. If we credit your theory, rather than experience, she will not be any customer of ours, during the prefent war. Portugal too, though fhe has had her Algerine war, hath lately been a better customer than formerly; but fince she has made peace with Algiers, and declared war againft France, we are doubtless to lofe her cuftom. The Barbary Shores, Italy, and Turkey, have all been lately better customers than formerly. With thefe countries, we have never had any permanent trade, during our wars with France; because the Mediterranean was a hoftile fea: but, now that the Mediterranean has become more friendly, we are to lofe their cuf. tom, according to your theory:

"So that the act and practick part of life,
"Muft be the mistress to this theorique."

If we may believe the act and practick of life, as they appear in the foregoing ftatement of facts, the several countries of Europe, however they may have been oppreffed by fyftems, have lately con

fumed

tilties, may be allowed the honours of argument. At the epoch of the American war, the whole cargoes of foreign and British merchandize, which we exported to all countries, amounted in value. £.15,613,003

to

So greatly was our export diminished, by the American war, that the whole foreign and British merchandize fent out to all countries, amounted only, in 1781, to

The annual lofs,

When we were forced into the prefent war, we exported foreign and British merchandize to the vast value of

You were led by your supposes and your fubtilties, contrary to the admonitions of experience, to infift, that our commercial loffes will be greater from the prefent, than from the American war. I will allow you to cut off, with your harlequin's fword, from our annual exports,

And, there will still remain for our

10,569,187

£.5,043,816

£.24,905,200

6,000,000

fupport,

18,905,200

Such was the lofs on our whole exports from the American war! and fuch the still greater lofs,

which, the present war is to cut off, by this harle

quin management!

Of British manufactures, the American war at once ftopt the export, to the

Of British manufactures, the prefent war only stopt the annual export to France, the value of

717,807

£.3,356,133

The balance of advantage

But, how are you to ftop, during the prefent war, the export, and the confumption, of British manufactures, to the vast amount of £.3,356,133 a year? Nothing is fo eafy. By potent charm, I can march from the belligerent nations two millions of men, where they cannot confume; I can impoverish the people, fo that they cannot buy; I can dry their bones, and fhrivel their muscles; and I can add to all thefe evils, famine, and peftilence *.

Oh! who can tell

The hidden power of hearbes, and might of magick skill!

* Such are the modes, which are proposed to stop the consumption of our manufactures, in pages 25-6-7.

C 2

Notwith

7

fumed more of British produce, than formerly, in the proportion of £.5,466,253, to £.4,185,053 "Matter of fact breaks out and blazes with too great an evidence to be denied," fays South, in the fermons, which you admire.

Yet, are you determined, that this blaze of fact shall not enlighten your fyftem. Of confequence, though Ireland, Man, Guernsey, Jersey, and Greenland, have lately confumed of British goods more than formerly, in the proportion of £.1,443,361, to £1,063,327, they are no longer to confume; when you wave your wand: and, Shakespeare wilk have it that, "wizards know their times."

Whatever wizards may know, or may do, certain it is, that our customers, without Europe, confumed yearly of British produce, according to a fix years average, ending with 1792, the value of £.7,844,345; yet, confumed, according to a fix years average, ending with 1774, the amount only of £.5,093,639. The United States, while they continue their neutrality, will alfo difparage your theory. They had their war-system, and their funding-fyftem: they were completely exhausted, at the peace of 1783: yet, they confumed annually of British produce, according to a

Six years average, ending with 1792; £. 2,807,306 Ditto ending with 1774, only 2,216,824

And, Dean Tucker happily lives to fee this! The prophecies of the worthy Dean were founded in experience,

experience, and wifdom: the predictions of other prophets originate merely in theories, and fubtilties. Notwithstanding every prediction, the United States will continue our goodly customers, as they feem wifely determined to enrich themselves by their neutrality.

If from the fruitful Weft, we look at the other hemisphere, we shall there perceive how much the Eaft Indies are alfo difpofed to fcoff at your theories. They too have had their funding-fyftem, and their Tippoo-war; yet they annually confumed, of British produce, according to a

Six years average, ending with 1792; £.1,921,955 Ditto ending with 1774, 907,240

Here, then, is a drain for the products of our land and labour, to almoft three times as great an extent, as the market of France: but, what avails it, if with a dash of your pen, you can blot Afia from the map!

We have now run over the foregoing statements, of indubitable facts, in order to fee, which of our customers we are likely to keep, or to lofe, and to what an amount from each. Experience has decided against your theory: yet you are not convinced. You ftill contend*, that we were fupported through the American war; because we exported our manufactures to countries, which could purchase them. Let us again apply facts, as the proper tefts of your reasonings, if fuppofes, and fub* Page 25.